NFL

Patriots hoping for return of two key players

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)

With six straight victories and their fourth consecutive AFC
East title already wrapped up, the New England Patriots are playing
perhaps their best football of the season.

And a large chunk of their recent run has come without two of
their top players.

So, imagine the big boost the Patriots will receive from having
one of their best players on each side of the ball return for what
is being billed as the game of the year.

After practicing in a limited capacity all week, starting left
guard Logan Mankins and standout rookie right defensive end
Chandler Jones are both listed as questionable for Monday night's
much-hyped matchup against the first-place Houston Texans (11-1), a
game with major playoff ramifications for both teams.

''Just got out there a little bit this week and tried to move
around. We'll see where it goes from today,'' said Mankins, who
injured his ankle in the second half of New England's victory over
Buffalo on Nov. 11 and has missed the last three games. ''We were
just trying to do as much as we can. I can't do everything yet, so
I guess we might find out Monday.''

Jones, the 21st overall selection in the draft and considered by
many to still be a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year
honors with six sacks, skipped the last two games with an ankle
injury suffered during the first quarter of the Patriots (9-3) win
over Indianapolis on Nov. 18.

His status, he said, rests in the hands of coach Bill
Belichick.

''Ready to play against the Texans,'' Jones said. ''We went out
there and we won a championship and I wasn't out there. But I'm
still thankful to be a part of this team.''

Mankins, a four-time Pro Bowl player, has missed five games this
season with various ailments, the second-most of his eight-year
career.

''It's been a couple games here and then miss a couple and then
a couple here, miss a few. It's just one of those years I can't get
on track yet,'' he said. ''Every game you want to be out there, you
just got to wait until you're ready to get out there.''

The pair couldn't have picked a more perfect time to return,
either.

Despite playing a pivotal part in the Patriots' top-ranked
offense and valiantly protecting quarterback Tom Brady amid
constant change due to injuries, the Patriots offensive line
certainly will be bolstered with Mankins out there as they prepare
to face their stiffest test of the season.

Houston defensive end J.J. Watt is wreaking havoc on just about
every opposing offense he's faced thus far. The second-year
standout ranks second in the league with 16 1/2 sacks and has
knocked down 15 passes this year.

Watt's sensational season also has overshadowed the strong play
of defensive end Antonio Smith, who has five sacks of his own,
along with Watt forming one of the most feared pass rushes in the
league.

''He's a guy that's getting overlooked down there,'' Mankins
said. ''J.J. Watt's getting a lot of attention deservedly, but
Antonio Smith's a very good player. He's a slippery guy inside that
has good quickness, good power and he really understands how to
work blockers, so he does a good job.

''They get ahead and teams have to start throwing it to catch
back up, so that plays right into their strength. They're a great
pass-rushing team.''

Houston boasts a strong offense, too. In fact, quarterback Matt
Schaub, running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Andre Johnson
have combined to lead the league's second-highest scoring attack -
behind only New England - making Jones' return all the more
important.

''They have a great offensive line, they have great wide
receivers and they're quarterback's good,'' Jones said. ''Our job
is just to bottle those guys up and eliminate the big play.''

Mankins' extended absence has been somewhat of a surprise,
though.

Last season he played through a torn anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee, something he admitted during training camp this
offseason, moments before acknowledging his extremely high pain
threshold. So, playing in just more than half of New England's
games this year may point more to the severity of the injury.

''There's some injuries you can play through, some restrict your
ability to play,'' Mankins explained. ''When it restricts your
ability, you can't play. You're just going to hurt the team if you
just get beat all the time.

''It's been tough,'' he added. ''But it is what it is. You learn
to deal with it. I've been pretty fortunate most of my career. I
guess it happens to everyone sooner or later.''?

Of course, Mankins wants to suit up. However, he won't
jeopardize the rest of the season to play in a game on Monday
night, against one of the best teams in the league, with possible
postseason seeding on the line.

''When I'm healthy, I'll come back,'' he said. ''Whether it's
this week, next week, the following week, it's up to my body when
I'm going to play again.''

Jones, on the other hand, seems ready to roll for his first
career Monday night game, and the Patriots lone one this
season.

''It's a primetime game. You know, Monday Night Football, you
grew up watching Monday Night Football,'' he said. ''And for the
Patriots to have the opportunity to go out there and showcase our
talent on a Monday Night Football game, that's a great
opportunity.''

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